Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Thursday that Southwest Georgia’s labor force increased in November.

Additionally, Southwest Georgia saw a monthly increase in employed residents, and a monthly decrease for initial claims in November.

“In November, almost all regions and counties saw over-the-month growth in every key indicator,” said Labor Commissioner Mark Butler. “Although the unemployment rate increased across the state, we have held consistently steady numbers in areas such as job growth and employment. We will continue to fill the jobs that are currently available, in order for us to move our economy back to where it was pre-pandemic.”

In Southwest Georgia, the unemployment rate increased by 1 percentage point, bringing the rate to 5.6 percent. A year ago, the rate was 3.3 percent.

The labor force increased in November by 2,844. The November total was 148,783. That number is up by 1,273 from the total from November 2019.

Southwest Georgia ended November with 140,429 employed residents.  The number increased by 1,246 in November but was down 2,196 as compared to last year.

Initial claims for unemployment decreased by 56 percent in November. When compared to last November, claims were up by about 319 percent.

The GDOL’s online job listing service at employgeorgia.com showed 2,195 active job postings in Southwest Georgia for November.

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